Pivoting to video with this addition, I saw this on the Book of Faces and thought it was interesting. Its a clip from the movie "Patton", and in a stellar performance George C. Scott absolutely channels the World War 2 warrior General George Patton. Apparently Patton was a poet as well as a student of warfare who wrote a powerful poem in 1922 titled "Through a Glass, Darkly." An brief excerpt of the poem was included in the film, further stanzas are included below, plus a link to the complete poem. 

What is interesting to me about this is not that a powerful historical figure believed in reincarnation; the film clip captures his sense of himself as more than his present physical being. What is striking is his spiritual fatigue at repeating the same battles, literal battles, over and over, from both sides of the conflict: being the commander, being the foot soldier, being the attacker and the defender. 

Through the travail of the ages

Midst the pomp and toil of war

Have I fought and strove and perished

Countless times upon this star.

 

In the form of many people

In all panoplies of time

Have I seen the luring vision

Of the Victory Maid, sublime.

 

I have sinned and I have suffered

Played the hero and the knave

Fought for belly, shame or country

And for each have found a grave.

 

I cannot name my battles

For the visions are not clear,

Yet, I see the twisted faces

And I feel the rending spear.

 

Perhaps I stabbed our Savior

In His sacred helpless side.

Yet, I've called His name in blessing

When after times I died.

 

 

So as through a glass and darkly

The age long strife I see

Where I fought in many guises,

Many names - but always me.

 

So forever in the future

Shall I battle as of yore,

Dying to be born a fighter

But to die again once more. 

 

More info about Patton’s belief’s in reincarnation here and the entire poem-

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